Inspiring Conversations with Destinee Gilbert of Blessed & Fine Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Destinee Gilbert.

Hi Destinee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When the COVID-19 pandemic first started in 2020, I lost my source of income due to quarantining for months. I was a 4-year undergraduate student pursuing my bachelor’s degree in social work at the time of the pandemic working as a traveling nanny. I realized during that time with no job or career that I needed a source of income to pay my bills. I filed for unemployment and then with that money, I wanted to invest into my own small business. I did my research and wanted to get creative with the name of my business because I wanted to own a hair boutique. By August 2020, I created Blessed & Fine Boutique. I started selling a small inventory of mink lashes on my website domain by February 2021. After graduating from Georgia State in May 2021, I wanted to get certified to become a lace hairstylist. I got my first certification for a wig install class in June and started taking clients in July 2021. From there, I did more research on cosmetology schools in Atlanta to get licensed and started attending hair school in October 2021. Currently, I am in cosmetology school pursuing my master’s cosmetology license so that I can own a salon in the future. Blessed & Fine Boutique is going to be a hair salon where I do installs and have custom wigs, bundles, and more products on hand for sale. My future salon will eventually turn into a one-stop-shop that provides other services such as facials, massages, nail care and etc.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
“If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress.” When creating a small business, the most important thing is funding. I would say that was the biggest struggle because I did not know how to get any business funding. I am already a student with student loans and credit card debt so I’m working hard to get out of debt. I always try to invest any of my income into my business so that I get more profit vs loss, but some days are better than others. I know that some people don’t like to admit their obstacles and challenges of being an entrepreneur but it’s been hard being a full-time cosmetology student working a part-time job with Amazon and being a hairstylist Monday through Saturday. My passion is doing hair full time when I get my master’s cosmetology license.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Blessed & Fine Boutique?
My brand is Blessed & Fine Boutique, which is a small business that provides hair services. I am a hairstylist that specializes in the beauty industry offering services such as wig installs, coloring, ponytails, sew-ins, and quick weaves. I also make custom color wigs for my clients to purchase. My professionalism and great customer service is what sets me apart from other stylists because I communicate effectively when I help my clients achieve their next hairstyle. Due to funding, I do not sell hair on hand yet but I will have my own retail in the future. I am most proud of my journey because it hasn’t been an easy path but I am a strong intelligent black woman capable of doing anything I put my mind to.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan on expanding my retail in the future by having custom units, closures, frontals and wigs on hand for my future clients. I also want my own suite to continue doing hair services before I build my own salon.

Contact Info:

• Email: shopblessedandfine@gmail.com
• Website: http://blessedandfine.as.me/
• Instagram: instagram.com/shopblessedandfine
• Facebook: Facebook.com/blessedandfine